Chelsea have not held any conversations with Frank Lampard about offering a
new contract to the 34-year-old midfielder and have no intention of opening
talks in the immediate future.

Despite suggestions of recent dialogue between Lampard and the club, Telegraph Sport understands that these discussions were designed purely to appraise him of Chelsea's position rather than to offer him any hope of a new deal.

Owner Roman Abramovich has endured a fierce backlash from Chelsea supporters over both his treatment of Lampard and his appointment of Rafael Benitez as interim manager, and the club are keen to reassure fans that their long-serving midfielder has been spoken to in the proper manner.

But this is as far as conversations have gone, with Abramovich pressing ahead with his plan to offload Lampard this summer regardless of whether the player accepts any cut in his £150,000-a-week wages.

Lampard moved alongside Kerry Dixon as the Chelsea's all-time leading scorer on 193 goals when he converted a penalty in Chelsea's 5-1 FA Cup third-round victory at Southampton.

Fans in the away end chanted "Sign him up" but this was unlikely to persuade Abramovich, who has resolved to dispense with Lampard no matter how many goals he scores in the remainder of the season.

Benitez has no power to force the issue, either, despite Lampard's three goals in the last three games under his watch.

The Spaniard said: "I know they have conversations sometimes, but the main thing for me is to bring the best from him. My job is to keep him doing well."

Should, as seems highly likely, a deal with Chelsea prove impossible, then Lampard will have no shortage of potential destinations.

Leading the queue to sign him would be the Los Angeles Galaxy, eager for a marquee name to replace David Beckham. Lampard and his fiancee, TV presenter Christine Bleakley, were engaged in Los Angeles in June 2011.

Lampard celebrated his 193rd Chelsea with visible emotion in the win at St Mary's.

"I am enjoying my football, I have to say," he said. "I know there is a lot of talking going around but I am really enjoying playing.

"That's what it is all about, so even if there are certain things going on in your head, when I run out there and the fans support me the way they do, it can't help but make you a bit emotional."